HOUSTON – The annual Houston Football banquet was renamed the Ken Baxter Football Banquet at Friday night’s event to honor the long-time Houston Athletics supporter who was instrumental in the annual event and passed away on Aug. 27.

Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Mack Rhoades made the announcement at Friday night’s event before presenting a framed personalized Houston jersey to Baxter’s wife of 42 years, Judi, along with daughter Traci and son-in-law Pat.

"Ken was a valued member of the Houston Athletics family," said Rhoades. "As the years passed, his commitment and support of our University remained strong and was a source of inspiration to those around him. You could not meet a finer person than Ken, and he will long be remembered for his generosity in so many ways. "

Baxter, who was a Distinguished Service Award honoree from the UH Alumni Association, supported the University in several ways, including Houston Athletics, Cougar Pride and UHAA.

He served as president of Taxi Squad, the Athletics Department's fundraising arm in the 1980s and 1990s, and was a board member of the Houston Athletics Foundation.

Baxter received the Bill Yeoman Special Achievement Award in 2004 and was named the University's Athletics Volunteer of the Decade in 2010. For his dedication and sacrifice through the years, he also was made an honorary member of the "H" Association, an organization composed of former letterwinners.